Okay, I knew it would be a lot of work, but announcing a slate of candidates for bishop in the diocese of california has turned me into a sniveling whiner. Wah, there's so much to do.
Breathe.
Pray.
Listen.
Well, it's not so bad I guess. I'm also trying to figure out what it means to be a Christian after you read stuff like this. It is really fascinating that there is so much punditry. Fascinating comments about Integrity, the ABC, the Queen of England, sodomites, orthodox Anglicans, are all par for the course. But a more bitter -- nay vitriolic -- tone I've never read. I can see why the liberal episco-geeks keep saying things like "don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out." But, of course, they're wrong too.
For me, keeping the conservatives in the diocese of California here and loved is the most important part of this transitioning process. We have St. Columba's in Inverness; a wonderful community that really just can't fathom how anyone in their right minds might vote for a gay bishop. The question I would like to ask every nominee is "What are you going to do to keep St. Columba's in the diocese?" Most of the clergy in the diocese could give a shit about St. Columba's. They see them as nothing more than an oddity out in the furthest reaches of the diocese. I see them as the ultimate challenge for us to live our baptismal faith. As soon as any person is elected bishop in this diocese, they need to strap a towel around their waste, grab a basin and a pitcher of warm water, and go wash the feet of every member of that little church in Inverness. In my mind, a gay or lesbian bishop might be able to pull this off, if they do it with honesty and true humility.
Because, as we all know, none of this is about sexuality -- although the commentators on David Virtue's site can't seem to think about anything but two men having anal intercourse. This is really about power. There are many on both sides who seek power over others. What we need now, more than ever, is the model of Jesus' final commandment. It is in humble service that we truly express the power of the Gospel. It is in stooping to the feet of the other that we bring the Kingdom of God closer.
A bishop search is an interesting process, really. I didn't know any of the nominees until about one hour before they were named. I still don't know much, but I will. So now, I get to remain journalistically detached from the process while finding out everything I can about the candidates. I do plan to speak up about the process, though. Maybe even here.
peace,
s
